Circadian Flight Schedules In Night-Migrating Birds Caught On Migration

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Veterinary
Article Date: 04 Sep 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Internal clocks tell night-migrating birds when to fly.

Many migratory birds travel alone in a series of nocturnal flights. A new study shows that an internal time-keeping system ensures that migrants remain on schedule.

European redstarts that were captured during their return migration from Africa behaved like clockwork in continuously illuminated flight chambers offering all-day-round feeding opportunities.

Despite the absence of sunset cues under these conditions, redstarts initiated migratory flights consistently on consecutive nights. The study introduces a novel approach to the analysis of circadian rhythms in animals on the move.

Royal Society journal Biology Letters

Biology Letters publishes short, innovative and cutting-edge research articles and opinion pieces accessible to scientists from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of succinct high-quality research communications.

Biology Letters